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The 2015 season was Starling Marte's third in Major League Baseball. Marte was signed by the Pirates as an amateur free agent in 2007. He played six minor-league seasons in Bradenton, Florida; Altoona, Pennsylvania; and Indianapolis, Indiana.

After Starling Marte was named a midseason all-star by the International League in July 2012, the Pirates promoted him to the major leagues on July 26, 2012. Marte became the third Pirate to hit a home run in his first plate appearance.

Starling Marte had a .287 batting average, with 19 home runs and 80 runs batted in, during the 2015 Major League Baseball season. Marte, who has primarily played left field with the Pirates, received the Defensive Player of the Year award from Wilson and a National League Gold Glove Award from Rawlings after the season.

Starling Marte, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 185 pounds. signed a six-year, $31-million contract in March 2014. The Pirates have an option to extend his contract for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. As of 2015, Marte has stolen 113 bases and hit 49 home runs.